Transcript Slide 1

College Applications
What you need to know to improve
your chances of being admitted to your
first choice school!
First Things First…
This is YOUR application. You will be the
one attending the school, therefore you will
be responsible for most of the work in this
process.
This is a TIME-CONSUMING process. It is
at least the equivalent of a 3-credit-hour
class.
You will be responsible for meeting
deadlines – this means you must learn the
deadlines and work within them.
Deadlines, deadlines….
There will actually be several deadlines for
EACH application
• You should request teacher
recommendations well in advance. Think
NOW about who you might ask in the fall.
• You must submit Secondary School
Reports or Counselor Recommendations
to your College Advisor at least three
weeks before they are due at the school.
And yet more deadlines.
• There will be different deadlines for Financial Aid
forms
• Most schools will have different deadlines for
school scholarships.
• Some Honors Programs have their own
deadlines.
• There are different deadlines for Early Decision,
Early Action, Interim Decision, Rolling Admission,
and Regular Decision.
• It is much better not to wait until the deadline!
Keep track of all of this…
School
ED/EA
Reg.
Fin.
Aid
Scholarships
Texas
A&M
Preferred
Deadline
10/15/10
FINAL
Rec’d By
1/15/11
FAFSA
2/1/10
Separate
app.
Dec 2010
UT
Austin
Preferred
10/15/10
Final –
Rec’d by
12/1/10
FAFSA
2/1/10
Freshman
Scholarships
12/1/10
(THEY DID
MOVE IT UP!)
Housing
Honors
Others,
Notes
Honors &
Academic
Scholarship
Dec 2010
All
deadline
REC’D
BY
ASAP after
ApplyTexas
completed.
Extra fee
Done
through
website,
each has a
separate
form
All
deadline
REC’D
BY
Done after
admitted
Extra
page for
6 yr
BA/MD
Need 2
SAT
Subject
tests
Separate
app,
3/1/11
Request
ACT or SAT
and 3 SAT
subjects.
Top U
11/1/10
1/1/11
School
form
1/1/11
FAFSA
2/15/11
Included
with Fin
Aid
Dream
College
11/1/10
1/1/11
School
12/1/10
FAFSA
2/1/11
Nomination After
required,
admitted
due by
2/1/11
Admissions BINGO
Minority Status:
African American, Asian
American,
Hispanic, Native American,
Female (for some programs)
President of 2 clubs
National Merit
Semifinalist
National press coverage
for volunteer efforts
First generation college
student (neither parent
attended college)
Eagle Scout or Gold
Award for Girl Scouts
SAT score or 2250 or
higher
Best essay ever seen by All your friends say you
any admissions officer at are “really smart” and
the school.
“nice.”
Legacy (mom, dad,
sibling, grandparent
attended)
Recruited athlete
GPA of 3.8 or higher.
Nominated for Golden
Globe and Academy
Award for original
screenplay.
Parents know President of Won state-level
University, lifelong
competition
friends
Published scientific paper Olympic medalist.
Recruited athlete
Won National Spelling Bee,
Geography Bee, AME 10,
Biology Olympiad, Chemistry
Olympiad, or other academic
competition.
Advanced to nationallevel competition for
club.
Guest performer with
Boston Pops and solo
recital at Carnegie Hall.
Mom and Dad say you
are their perfect little
angel.
You have wanted to go to
school X since you were
born. Your parents
brought you home from
the hospital in a college tshirt.
You have wanted to be a
doctor since you were 3
years old, and save lives.
You have joined thirty
clubs, and given three
hours per year to each of
them.
Some Numbers – Scary Numbers
• How many high schools are in Texas?
• 1231 with more under construction.
• How many high schools in the United
States?
• About 91,950
So what does that MEAN?
Each school has a valedictorian or top
student.
Texas had 241,193 graduates in 2007, with
78% of those graduating with
Distinguished or Recommended program.
Schools calculate rank and GPA differently,
weighted, un-weighted, and other factors.
Why do I need to start now?
• Last year, Washington University had over
25,000 applications for only 1500 places in
the freshman class. Some students who
would have been admitted in the past are
now being denied.
• Two years ago, applications at Baylor
increased by over 35%. They are now
recommending that students apply over
the summer to increase their chances.
You are competing against other
TAMS students, other students in
Texas, students in other states in the
US, and students from around the
world. You need to make your
application the best it can be to stand
out in a GOOD way.
Essays
• Essays are often the deciding factor when
2 candidates have similar academic
records.
• You can not just throw something together
the night before you send your application.
You need to give your essays thought,
then polish and refine them.
• This is your chance to show what is
special or unique about you.
• Use the “thumb” test.
Here is what UT Austin has to say…
– It would be nice (maybe) if the University of Texas were filled
with heroic leaders who had all been dramatically influenced
by all of their academic subjects and extracurricular activities,
but it’s not, and we don’t expect it to be anytime soon.
Instead, it is made up of a host of interesting, unique
individuals who have made a wide range of contributions to
their families, their schools, or their communities and attained
many different kinds and levels of achievement. If we are
“looking for” anything in these essays, we are looking for
YOU – the unique individual that stands behind all those
numbers and grades and test scores. These essays are an
opportunity for you to introduce us to you.
don’t just repeat the question, introduce your idea
illustrate your points with specific examples and interesting
details
bring the reader to some conclusion; don’t just repeat what
you’ve already said
write to convey your ideas clearly and easily; don’t write to
“impress”
write about what’s specific to you; not what you think we want to
hear
express yourself; could your parents pick out your essay from a
pile of 50 others?
Think about your activities
• Begin organizing your resume.
• Think about extracurricular activities,
volunteer work, jobs, etc.
• Think about how much time you give to
each.
• Think about which means the most to you
and why.
• Think about what trends are shown.
Think about money
• There are scholarships out there, but
many will require you to do extra work,
write an essay, read a book, etc. Plan to
leave some time for these.
• Remember that textbooks will cost you
money – your books for this school year
cost over $500. Even a $100 scholarship
helps.